Work-positioning means



A. F. PYM

WORK POS'ITIONING MEANS June 19; 1928. 1,674,061

Filed Jan.'9, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 A. F. PYM

WORK POSITIONING MEANS June 19, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan; 9, 1925 Patented June 1 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

-AR'IHUR FREDERICK Pym-or MARELEHEAD, MAssAoHnsETTs, AssIGNoR T UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW Jansen WORK-POSITIONING MEANS;

Application filed Januaryfi, 1925. Serial'No. 1,485.

This invention relates to work positioning means for use inthemanufact'ure of boots and shoes, and .in different aspects has in View the provision of means for positioning insoles on their lasts and means for positioning lasts and their shoe materials relative to means for-operating on said materials. i 4

, It has been the general practice heretofore.

10 in the manufacture of welt and other types of shoes'to fasten the insole toits last by tacks driven usually, at the toe and heel en ds'and in .the'shank,- There-arc, however, well knov'vn objections to the use of such tacks. It sometimes happens, for example, that a tack is left in the insoleuntil the shoe is finished, and such a tacklnot only may cause injury to the wearer of the shoe-but is'very diflicult to remove without damage to theshoe. Since, moreover, the tacks are driven in about the samelocati ons in the manufacture of different shoes on the same last, the wood of the lastmay finally become so disintiagrated that the -tacks =no longer hold effectively. Furthermore, in the prevailing practicethefaccuracy with which. the insole is positioned' on the lastjdepends entirelyuponthe operators care and udgment. l In view of the foregoing, the present in.- vention, in one important aspect, provides novel means for positioning and holding insoles accurately in.predetermined'relation to their lasts without the use of tacks. The construction showri comprises a spring-metal clamping member applied to the bottom face of the insole and'extending along the fore: part and rearwardly also along the shank.

This n iefnber. is shaped to hold the insole 4 in close conformity to the shank curvature of the last," and is attached tot-he last 'by means ofia pinaprojecting through a.hole

in the insole into a. hole or socket formed in the'bottom of the last. To adapt it to apply effective clamping pressure tothe insole, the clamping member herein shown is so shaped as to be subjectedto bending stress in forcing it into'clamped-positiom'and when it has been thus applied'its resiliency is utilized for 30 holding itin clamping position by cramping the pin in the hole in the last. Itwill be understood that/the last will be provided to the lateral insole.

mentioned are located in the toeend portions of the lastand the insole, and it is contemplated that a single, clamping member provided with a pin to enter such holes will be sutlicicnt for positioning and holding the insole in most lines ofwork, since the lengthwise and lateral position of the toe end of r the insole will thus be accurately determined,

it being understood that when the insole has been properly positioned it held efi'ectively from turning movement by the pressure of the clamping member. If desired, however,- an additional positioning or clamping device cooperating with holes similarly formed in the heel end portion of-the last and the insole may be provided, as also herein shown to insure absolute accuracy as position of the heel 'end' of the It is a further object of the invention to provide means for positioning a last and its shoe materials relatively to means for oper-- ating onsaid materials, and in one impor tant'aspectq-to prov de means for carryingout the method set forth in my prior application Serial No. 698,099, filed on March 10, 1924, when the insole positioning means of this invention is utilized.- In accordance with the disclosure ofsaid prior application, the last and its-shoe materials are positioned in predetermined relation to means for operating on said materials, for'example to toe embracing Wipers, by mounting .the last on an axis bear-ing'a definitely predetermined relation both to the contour of the last and to the wipers,- the last and the insole being 7 provided with-registering holes in predetermined relation to their contours, substantially like the holes herein shown as adapted to receive the clamp-positioning'pin, and the lasting machine having a pin located in larly, in the construction herein shown the forepart and shank clamping device is pro-' vided with an outwardly projecting fpin which is coaxial with the pin that enters the hole in the last and thus bears a definitely predetermined relation to the contour of the last. and the machine is provided with a socket bearing correspondingly predetermined relation to the edges of the wipers to receive the outwardly projecting pin. It' will thus be seen that the last is mounted on an axis bearing a definitely predetermined relation both to its contour and to the wipers in accordance with the method of the earlier application.

-The invention will now be more particu larly described by refereuce to the accom-, pauying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

shank clamping device shown detached; this figure showing also a part of a shoe machine formed to cooperate with the'insole clamping means to position the last: v

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the forepart and. shank clamping device;

Fig. 3 illustrates more fully the use ofthc clamping device shown-in Fig. 2; p a Fig. 4 shows in front elevation a portion of a toe lasting machine having means for positioning the last and its shoe materials in accordance with the method of my prior application when the insole clamping device.

' of Fig. 2 is utilized; and

Fig. 5' is a in Fig. 4.

For purposes of the present invention. in its illustrated embodiment, there is provided a spring-metal clamping member 2 adapted to be applied on the bottom face of the iusole a and to extend along theforepart and rearwardly over a portion of the shank. This member may be differently shaped, as desired. to overlie more or less of the width of the insole, the construction shown complan view of the parts shown i prislng a comparatively narrow plate 'adapted to extend lengthwise of the insole substantially midway between the opposite sidesof the last. The rear endportion of 240 member 2 is bent relatively to the front portion so as to engage the shank portion of the insole with effective clamping pressure and to hold it in close conformity to the shank curvature of the last. As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the member 2 has normally a wide extremes it will be posite end portions. I

Forattaclun" the clam in"' member 2 to h l b the last and for holding it in clamping-.po-.

sition a pin 4: is provided, this pin .in LIhe construction shown being fast on the clainps ing member. To receive the pin 4 the last is provided in the bottom of its forepart with a hole or socket'ti. a metal bushing 8 being inserted to prevent undue wear. The insole likewise is provided with a hole 10 so located as to register with the hole 6 in the last when the insole is in its proper position on the last. By reference to Fig. 3 it will beseen that the normal curvature of the member 2 is such as to position the-pine initially in inclined rclation to the hole 6 in the last, and that the pin can be forced into the hole only by springing the intermediate portion .ofthe member 2 downwardly toward the insole until the pin is tipped into a position substantially in alinernent with the hole. It will thus be seen that after the member 2 has been sprung into clamping position and the pin has entered the hole in the last, the resiliency oi the clamping member serves to cramp the pin in the hole through its tendency to tip it, and in this way the clamping member and the pin are held efi'ectivcly in place. .Theclamping device, however, may

' be readily detached from the last when dcsired by prying' it up with-the aid of any suitable tool, or in the manner hereinafter described:' I

In the construction herein shown the clamping member 2is so shaped-as to conforni substantially to the lengthwise curvatureof the bottom of the last when' it is in clamping position; however, that consistently with the objects of the invention the clamping member need not conform with absolute accuracy to the contour=of the'last. and accordingly it is con-templated that the same size and shape of clamping member ma -'be used for a number of dillerent last sizes. although for referable to provideclampingmembers of difi'erent sires or shapes. It is further to be understood that in other respects likewise the invention is not restricted to insole-positioning means formed and located precisely as herein illustrated.

It will be seen that by inserting the pin 4 through the hole 10 in the insole and into th hole 6 in the last the forepart of the in solo is positioned lengthwise and laterally. and after the clamping devicehas been applied its pressure on the insole is such as to hold the insole effectively against lateral displacemeut'of its heel end portion. If desired. moreover. for the sake of absolute too It will be understood.

accuracy, another positioning device may be applied at the heclend of the insole. .In

/ the drawings-such a device is shown as comprising a short resilientblamping plate 12 provided witha pinrlgt to enter a hole] formed in the heel end portion of the last I in predetermined relation to its'c'ontour, the

plate 12 having a normal shit-fie suchias to cramp the'pin- 14in the hole in the last through its resiliency "the same manner as heremabove described-with reference -to the forepart and shankfcla-mping device.' The ,iusole .willlbe provided with ahole 16in its" heel'end to recei-ye the pin 14 and preferably this holewill be formed as a slot extendinglengthwise of the insole so as to, allow for possible small variations in the length of different insoles or;-in, ,the accuracy of their chine.

conformity to the shank curvature ofthe last and. -th'usto make it easier to apply the heel enfd positioning device unde-rvarymg condiz tions ltfj-Iwill be understood that the hole or slot 'inthe heel end ofthe insole will be so located that when it is in alin-ement with 5 the hole in the last the heel end of the in- "sole will be in the right position.

For the further purpose. of positioni'ngthe last and its shoe materials relatively to means for operating on said materials, and as herein. shown relat1vely to toe-embracing wipers 18,0f atoe lasting machine (Figs;

4 and 5),. the clamping member 2 has an outwardly projecting" pin 20 thereon formed and arranged to enter a socket 22 in the arm 24whieh is fixed on the frame of the ma- The other parts of the machine h'e'rein shown need not be described in detaili since they are fullyshown and described in the prior application hereinabove mentioned. It will be sufiicient to state that the last and shoe are held upwardly against the front end of "the arm 24,-;which serves as a holddown, by means of a toe rest 26, and that the wipers 18 are shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the lateral periphery of the toe and-are advanced and closed about the toe under such control that the extent-{of their closing movement laterally of the shoe bears a' definitely predetermined relationto the extent of their v advancing: movement lengthwise of t-he shoe.

As set forth in said prior application, it is desirable that the shoe be so positioned in I relation to the wipers th'at thewipingl; edges of thelatter will be brought into position substantially to conform to the contour of the toe at that point in their advancing and closing movements when they are about to begin the wipingof the upper inwardly over the insole. To insure such positioning of the shoe, the prior application disclosed a method vwhereby. positioning surfaces are provided on the last and on the machine to cooperate with each other, the positioning surface on the last bearing a definitely pre-' determined relation to the contour of the toe and the positioning surface on the machine hearing the samecorresponding relation to t-hepeda'es of the wipers when the wipers are in position toconform-to the contour of the toe. As here n lllustrated. positioning sur-.

faces cooperating to posit-ion the work in accordance with the method of the prior application are afforded by the periphery of the pin 20 on the last and by the corresponding peripheral wall of the hole or socket 22 in the machine. It will be understood that the holes 6 and 10 in the last and the'insolc respectively are tojbe formedin the same predetermined relation to the edge contours of these parts in all'shoes of thesame size and style,- as more fully ezi-plained in .the prior, application, and inorder that-the pin 20 will similarly bepos'itioned in the, same invariable rel'ation todifl'erent shoes it .is

preferable, as herein shown, 'to' mount this pin eoaxially with the pin 4. It will thus lie-seenthat each shoe is provided with a fixture which predetermines its relation to the wipers,- and that all that the operator has to do in presenting the shoe to the bust ing machine is to insert the pin 20 in the socket 22.' The shoeis thus mounted so that itmay turn about the axis of the pin 20', and incase it should not .be pointed 'in exactly the right direction for the wipers to fit the contour of the toe when they are advanced and .closed about the toe, the pressure of the Wipers on the shoe will swing the shoe into exactly the right position for the wipers thus to fit the toe, as. alsomore fully forth in the prior application.

In theme of the-invention, the lasts and the insoles having been properly prepared .for the application thereto of nsole posi-' is properly seated in the hole in the last. He then swings the insole and the clamping device,1if necessary, about the axis of the pin 4lto position the heel end portion of the insole in the right relation to the last, and it the'heel'end clamping devi'ceis ntilized, he

then applies this device to the insole, pressloo ing it into place in substantially the same manner as the forepart clamping device. The last and the insole arethen ready for theupper materials to be assembled thereon and for other manufacturing operations.

It will be understood that if the shoe is presented to a pulling-over machine, the shoe rest of such a machine will be so'shaped asto provide room for the insole positioning means without interference between these.

parts, or such a machine may have means for engaging the pin 20 to position the shoe.

After'the pulling-over operation, and it may be also after the side lasting operation as 5 herein illustrated, the shoe is presented to the toe lasting machine, and it this machine is a machine of the type'illustrated in'Figs. 4 and 5, the pin 20 is inserted' in the socket 122 for positioning the shoe in proper relation to. the wipers; After the'toe lasting operation and prior to the-subsequent operations on the shoe, the insole clamping devices are preferably removed, since they are no longer requiwd. This may be doneby each clamping member so asto withdraw the. pin from the holein the last, or in the case of the forepart clamping means the removatof the clamping device may be conveniently eil'ected by tipping the heel end of the shoe upwardly while the pin 20. is still in the socket 22,'thereby counteracting the cramping effect of the clamping member .2 on the pin '4 enough to release the pin from the last., v

\l'hile the invention is herein illustrated in its application to the manufacture of Welt shoes, it will be understood that. it is likewise applicable to the manufacture of McKay shoes and shoes of other types.

Having described, the invention what I -claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Means for positioning an insole on a ]ast comprising a clamping device portable with the last and havinga resilient clamping member for clamping the'insole yieldingly on the bottom face of the last, s aid clamping device being detachable from the last while the last. remains in the shoe;

2. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a resilient clamping member portable with the last and constructed to apply clampingpressure to the bottom tween the opposite sides of the last. 3. Mea'ns for positioning an insole on 'a last comprising a-spring-metal clamp portable with the last and constructed to extend along the bottom face of the insole substantially in the direction'of the'length 'of the last in clamping engagement with the insole.

4:."Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a.clamping member portable with the last and having means for attaching it to the last, saidclampingmember being constructed to extend along' the forep'art'of the insole and rearwardly along the shank for holding the shank'portion of the insole close to the bottom face of the last.

Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a resilient clamping memher for applying clamping pressure to the inserting a suitable tool under the edge of face of the insole substantially midway bebottom face of the insole, and means for attaching said member' to the last through a hole in the insole.

6. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a resilient clamping memher for applying clamping pressure to the bottom face of the insole, and a pin formed to extend through the insole into a hole in the bottom of the last to attach said memher to the last.

7. Means for positioning an insole on a last'comprising a clamp' constructed to extend along the bottom face of the insole at theforepart andthe shank,- and means for attaching said clamp to the forepart of the last through a hole in the insole.

8. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a clamp constructed to extend along the bottom face of the insole, and a pin for attaching anend portion of said clamp to the last through a hole in the.

insole.

9. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a resilient insole clamping member portable with the last'and formed to extend along the bottom-face of the insole, said member having a normal curvature different from' that of the corresponding portion otthe bottom face of the last to adapt it to be sprung into clamping position, and means for holding said member in clamping position. 4

10. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a resilient clamping member formed .to extend along the bottom face of the insole and adapted to be sprung into clamping position, and a pin on said clamping member adapted to extend through the insole into a hole in the bottom of the last and so arranged relatively to the clamping member as to be cramped in saidhole by the resiliency of th'\ clamping member to hold said member in place.

11. 'Means for positioning an insole on a last comprisinga spring-metal clamping member formed to'e'xte'nd along the bottom face of the insole and having a normal contour different from that of the corresponding portion of the bottom face of the last to adapt its intermediate portion to be, sprung toward the bottom face ofthe last, 1

and a pin on one end of said clamping mem- 'ber adapted to project through the insole into a hole in the bottom of the last and to be cramped in said hole by the resiliency of said clamping member to hold said member 7 in place.

12; Means for positioning an insole on alast comprising a-resilient clamping member formed to extend along the bottom face of the insole to clamp the insole on the last and having a projection adapted to extend through the insole into a socket formed in the bottom of the last, said member being so shaped as to require it to' be subjected to bending stress in forcing said projection into the socket in the last. I V

13. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a spring-metal clamping member formed to extend along the bottom i face of the "insole at the forepart and the sh'ank' and having its rear end portion bent for applying clamping pressure to the shank portion of the insole,'and a pin on the other end portion of .said member adapted to project through the insole intoasocket in the bottom ofthe last, said member being so shapedbetween its ends asto require it to be subjected to bending stress in forcing said pin intothe'sOcket in the last.

14 The combination of a ,lasthaving a socket in its bottom portion, a clamping member formed to extend along the forepaa't and shank of air-insole to clamp the insole" on the last,.,and a member formed to project.

through theinsole into said socket in the last to hold said member in place.

-hole in the insole into said socket in the last to hold said member in place. i

16. The combination of alast having a vsocket in the,bottom' of itsforepart, a resilient clamping member formed to extend 15. The combination of a last having a socket in jits -bottom portion, a resilient clamping member for engaging the: bottom face .of an insole to holdthe insole onthe last, and a pin formed to project through a along the bottom face of an. insole at the shank and to applyclamping pressure yildforepart and also-Tearwardly along the ingly .to' the shank portion of theinsole when subjected to'bendingstress, and a pin mpositioning devices comprising on said clamping member arranged to project through a hole in the insoleinto said socket in the last and to be cramped insai'd' socket by the resiliency of said member for holding the member in place.

17. The combination of a last having sockets formedinitsbottom portion at its too and heel ends respectively, and insole resilient clamping members having pins thereon formed to enter said sockets in thelast and arranged to be cramped in said sockets'by' the resiliency of the clamping members.

18. The combination of a last having sockets formed in its bottom portion. at its toe and heel ends respectively,.of a resilient clamping member having a -.pin,.formed to project through a hole in the insole into the socket in the toe endpf the last,'said clamp.- ing member being shaped to apply clamping pressure yieldingly to the shank portion of the insole, and an additional insole positioning device having a pin formed to project through a hole in the insole into the socket in the heel end of the last for positioning the heel end portion" of the insole.

19.- In work positioning means, a device constructed tobeapplied to a last for positioning a loose insole on the last and detachable from thelast while the last isin the shoe, said device being portable with the last and having a portion formed to project outwardly atan angle to the bottom face of the insole for engagement with a part 'ofamachinefhaving means for operating on the shoe inatrialsto position the last in prede- .terinined relation to said operating means;

20. In work positioning means, a' device for clamping an insole on a last, said device being portable withthe last in fixed relation thereto and having a pin arranged to project in substantially perpendicular relation'to' the bottom face of the insole and formed to enter. a socket ;in a shoe machine to position the last'in said machine;

21. In work positioning means, a device;

for positioning a loose :insoleon alast comprising a resilient clamping member for engaging the bott'omface of the -insole,.'said' device having thereon a pin formed to project through a hole in theinsole into -a socket formed in'the bottom of the last and having also a positioning surface coaxial with'said pin formed for engagement with a cooperating positioning surface in a ma chine for operating on the shoe materials for positioning the last in said machine.

22. In workpositioning-means, -a clamp for engaging the bottom face of an insole to clamp the insole on a last, said clamp having projecting therefrom in opposite direcwas tions a pair of pins arranged respectively to project through,the insole into a socket formed in thebottom of the last and to enter a socketformed in a machine for operating on the shoe materials to position the last in said machine.

23: In work positioning means, a member constructed tobe applied to a last'in predetermined relation to the contour of the last and to an insole onthe bottom of the last before the last is presented to ashoe ma .'chine, said member having a' projection at the toeend portion of the last formed for engagement with a part of a machine for operating on theshoe materials. to position the last in said machine.

24.111 work positioning means, a clamp Tforengaging the bottom face of an insole to clamp the insole on alast, said clamp having thereon a 'pin arranged to project through the toe end portion of the insole into a socket in the bottom of, the last and tion thereto for clamping an insole on the last, said devicehaving a positioning surface thereon in predetermined relation to the contour of the last, and a member provided with a positioning surface in predetermined relation to said means for operating on the shoe materials for engaging the positioning surface on said insole clamping device to position the last relatively to said operating means. 4

26. Thewmbination with means for op-" erating on shoe materials on a last, of a last having a socket in its bottom portion in'predetermined relation to its contour, a work positioning device portable with the last and having a pin to enter said socket thrtzugh a hole in the insole and also a pin arganged to project outwardly'away from the insole, and a menibenprovided with a recess in predetermined relation to said means for operating on theshoe materials to receive said last-namedpin for positioning the last relatively to said operating means.

27. The combination vith toe-embracing wipers, of a last having a socket in the bottom of its forepart in predetermined relation toits contour, a work positioning device portable with the last and h'aving a pin to enter said socket'through a hole in the insole, said device. having also a positioning surface for use in" positioning the last rela tively to the wipers, and a member-prov ded with a positioning surface inpredetermined relation to the'wipers for engaging the positioning surface on said Work positioning device to determine the relation of the last to the wipers.

28. The combination with toe-embracing wipers, of a last having a socket in the bottom of its forepart in predetermined relation to its contour, a device portable with the last forclamping an insole on the last and provided with a pin to enter said socket through a "hole in the insole, said device ha ing also a-pin projecting outwardly from the insole, and a member provided with a recess in predetermined relation to said wipers to receive said last-named pin for positioning the last relatively to the. wipers. Y

29. The combination with toe-embracing wipers having wipingedges formed substantially to fit the contour of the toe of a shoe when they are closed about the toe, of a work positioning device portable with a last in fixed relation thereto and havinga positioning surface thereon in predetermined relation to the contour of the last, and a member pro.-

vided with a positioning surface in the same relation.to the edges of the wipers when the wipers are closed about the toe of'the shoe that said first-named positioning surface the shoe for engaging said first-named positioning surface to position the last relatively to the wipers.

30. The combination with toe-embracing wipers havin Wipingedges formed substanforepart in predetermined relation to its contour, a work positioning device portable with the last and having a pin to enter said socket through a holein the insole, said device having also a positioning surface coaxial with saidepin, and a member provided with a positioningisurface arranged to bear the same relation to the edges of the wipers when'the wipers are closed about the toe that said first-named positioning surface bears to the contour of the lateral periphery of the toe for engaging said first-named positioning surface "to position the last relatively to the wipers. I

31. The combination with toe-embracing wipers having wiping edges formed substantially to fit the contour of the toe of a shoe when they are closed about the toe, oi a last having a socket in the bottom of its fore part in predetermined relation to its contour, an insole positioning device"portable with the last and having a pin to enter said socket, said device having also a pin projecting outwardly from the insole, and a member having a socket arranged to bear the same relation to the edges of the wipers when the wipers are closed about the too that said last-named pin bears to the contour of the lateral periphery of the toe to receive said last-named pin for positioning the last relatively to the wipers.

32. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising amember formed to enter holes previously provided in the insole and the last inpredetermined relation to the contour of the insoleand of the last rcspectivizly, and means for cramping said member in the hole in the last to hold it in place. p 33. Means for positioning an insole on a last comprising a pin formed to projectthrough a hole previously provided in the insole in predetermined relation to its edge.

name to this specification. bears to the lateral periphery of the toe of ARTHUR F. PYM. 

